The Bataan Risers nipped the Makati OKBet Kings, 68-65, late Saturday, April 22, to get back on track in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bataan People's Center in Balanga City.

James Castro returns to form for Bataan. (MPBL)

Atoning for an awful performance in the previous outing, James Castro posted 18 points, including the marginal three-point play, as the Risers halted a three-game slide and evened their slate at 3-3 in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.

After Castro, who was held scoreless in Bataan's 60-62 loss to Manila on April 15, completed his 3-point play with still two minutes and 17 seconds to go, Makati bungled its last eight attempts, the last two on treys by Emman Calo, to enable Bataan to avert another collapse.
Castro emerged Bataan's lone double-digit scorer apart from grabbing five rebounds, issuing three assists and stealing twice in a 31-minute 44 second stint.

The homegrown star was followed by Arvie Bringas with eight points plus nine rebounds and Yves Sazon with eight points, two rebounds and two assists. Jamil Gabawan also delivered with six points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Makati, which dropped to 2-2, got 15 points from Calo and 13 from Rob Celiz.

Earlier, Bacolod City of Smiles subdued Manila Stars, 90-86, to also raise its card to 3-3.
Bacolod drew 17 points and 11 rebounds from Coy Alves, 16 points and six assists from John Cantimbuhan, 13 points and six rebounds from Domark Matillano, 12 points from James Mangahas and 11 points from Alfred Sedillo.

Manila fell to 1-5 despite the 25-point, seven-rebound effort of Adrian Celada and the 16-point, nine-rebound, nine-assist, three-steal output of Marcy Arellano.

The Iloilo United Royals, powered by Justine Sanchez's 15 points and 10 rebounds, trounced the Bicol Volcanoes, 109-77, in the opener to climb to 2-4.

Iloilo also got 14 points from Toby Ynot, 12 from Neil Tolentino and nine each from Renzo Navarro, who also handed nine assists, Joshua Flores, AJ Madrigal and JR Sumido.

Although James Martinez fired 23 points and Wowie Escasio accounted for 19 points and 11 rebounds, Bicol hogged the cellar with its sixth straight defeat.

The MPBL goes to the FilOIl Flying V Arena in San Juan on Monday with Sarangani battling Mindoro at 4 p.m., Bacoor tackling Quezon City at 6 p.m. and Caloocan tangling with San Juan at 8 p.m.